Book Review: Evan's Gift by Karen Charles

When Evan trades his dream of a new bike for compassion, he discovers the greatest gift of all—helping others. Perfect for classrooms and families, “Evan’s Gift” celebrates empathy, courage, and the beauty of giving in a warm, uplifting story about generosity and the power of choosing kindness.

• Genre:children’s fiction
• Sub-genre:Social Themes / Friendship
• Age Range (years):5 – 12
• Language:English
• Pages: 48
• Paperback ISBN:9798317824341
• Publisher: BookBaby

Ethan’s Gift is available at BookBaby.

Review:

This is a beautifully written children's book about a child named Evan and his quest to give a new bike to someone and in so doing learns a lot about himself and that kindness goes a long way. What's interesting is that this story was actually based on the author's experience as a kid out there earning her own bike while growing up in Africa. The writing was superb and the illustrations are so perfect! It would make a great story to be read to children in order to instill the real meaning of kindness and would also make a great classroom read. I give this wonderful book 5 stars!

Book Review: Nobody's Important by Lee J. Mavin

 

Title: Nobody's Important
Author: Lee J. Mavin
Publisher: Tellwell
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

BOOK BLURB:

Nobody could have known that the Evil Ones would attack so suddenly from the North. They came with fire and folly, mounted on wild beasts, and the poor Underlings, who were very much undersized and unprepared, cried out for help across the Western Lands. They tried to broadcast the terror to the world and the Higher Elders and Wise Chieftains devised plans to strike back. As the war grew and grew the innocent Underlings watched in horror, hoping for someone to save them. One of those Underlings was Nobody Important (yes that was his actual name), and he came up with an unrealistic plan to stop the Evil Ones.

What was this unrealistic plan and how could somebody named Nobody Important bring an end to the war?

Nobody Important is available at Amazon.

Review:

I honestly have never read a children's book like this in my life - kudos to Lee J. Mavin for creating this. It seems the Underlings and The Evil Ones are at war. Crazy subject for a children's book but bear with me - it's written delicately. The Evil Ones are determined to bring down The Underlings. The Underlings top brass decided to call on the world for help in defeating The Evil Ones. They want nothing but the war to come to an end before they and their country all perish. Then there was someone named Nobody Important who saw the need to get this war to stop. So he comes up with a plan. A really good plan but I don't want to spoil it for you - I think that would be giving too much away. But for someone named Nobody Important (and if I read it right this was actually a real person and his name was Nobody Important). This does remind me of an actual event that's pretty well taking place today. So what I believe Mavin has done was take a real live event and made a story around it to help us understand what's going on where this live event is taking place. You'll have to read the story to find out what I'm talking about - sorry it might give too much away. Beautiful story, though. Poignant and soul-bearing. Touches the heart. I give this book 5 gold stars!

Book Review: The Whispering Witch by Lee J. Mavin

Title: The Whispering Witch
Author: Lee J. Mavin
Publisher: Tellwell
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

BOOK BLURB:

The Whispering Witch starts with a fading world. The trees are turning grey and the islands are sinking beneath the rising seas. Men of earth continued with their bickering and wars and all hope withered. A young girl came from the soil with one purpose, to heal the sick world. She regrew the glaciers and sprinkled down seeds into the rainforests and even brought the dinosaurs back, hatching from new eggs. The infant reptiles stretch out and play in the modern new world and the children adore them. However, the men cry out in object and gather their swords to bring her down. The leaders of earth witnessed these changes and only wanted to maintain order and control. But the leaders of mankind feared her touch. Distrustful of the power they could not control, they cast her away, determined to maintain their rule. Yet the witch did not come for them. Her message was for their children—the next generation, still untouched by the greed and ruin that plagued the old.

So, the powerful leaders of earth hunted her down and cursed her name. She did not fight them and returned back below, beneath the soil. However, she whispered to all the children of the world and asked them all to put away their father’s swords and look to the gardens, watering the world with hope.

The Whispering Witch is available at Amazon.

Review:

What a beautifully written children's book! The Earth is dying and The Whispering Witch comes out of the despair and puts her magical touch on it. This book is so relevant today. If we don't stop killing Mother Earth, we are all going to perish and there will be no magical whispering witch to save us. But it's not all about Mother Earth. It's about us which this story beautifully displays. It starts with mankind. I was really impressed with how this resonated with my heart. This book should be on every child's bookcase. It should be read to the children who aren't old enough to read. I can't express it more. Beautifully written! I do want to give a thumbs up to the illustrator who did an excellent job as well. Great book highly recommended. If you don't buy but one children's book this year, this should be the one. I give it 5 stars!

 

Book Review: Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir by Mike Martin

Title: Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir
Author: Mike Martin
Publisher: Mezzo Publications
Genre: Children’s Christmas Book

BOOK BLURB:

Princess Sophie and the Magic Elixir is the story of a young girl who loves Christmas. When she sees that the people of Melodica are losing their Christmas spirit, she sets out to help them rekindle their magic. At the end she finds that all we really need is to believe in the power of love.

Princess Sophie and the Magic Elixir is available at Amazon.

Review:

What a fun book this was! And let me start off by saying the illustrations were out of this world. I have read hundreds of Christmas children's books and this has to be my favorite. So, Sophie gets up one morning during the Christmas season just feeling like something was wrong. She just didn't have that Christmas spirit and it seems everyone in the town was feeling it as well. So Sophie along with her sidekick, Hoppy, set out to figure out what is wrong and make it right. Only nothing is doing the trick. And then she finds...magic in the form of a bottle of Christmas Elixir.

I'm not going to give anything away but if you only had one Christmas children's book to buy this Christmas, make it this one. The writing flows and the illustrations as I mentioned were just beautiful. I give this book 5 stars!

Book Review: Scrapper's Christmas Story by Maria J. Andrade

 

Title: Scrapper's Christmas Story
Author: Maria J. Andrade
Pages: 36
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

An angel tells the heartwarming story of a small, homeless, dog who wanders through busy streets longing for a loving family. The enchanting Scrapper’s  Christmas Story, is a children’s book that is sure to captivate young hearts this holiday season.

Written in a captivating style reminiscent of classic children’s books, Scrapper’s Christmas Story, takes young readers on a magical journey filled with friendship, wonder, and the true spirit of Christmas. Follow the lovable Scrapper, alone, cold, and friendless, as he embarks on an unforgettable adventure, where he is befriended by the kindness of an immigrant man who also knows the need to belong. Both dog and man discover the magic of the holiday season and the joy of giving.

Scrapper’s Christmas Story, is ideal for children of all ages, making it the perfect choice for parents, grandparents, and loved ones seeking a heartwarming story to share during the holiday season!

Buy Links:

Amazon | Buy From the Author with Free Shipping

Review:
 

Scrapper's Christmas Story by Maria J. Andrade has to be one of the cutest children's books I've read with a rescue as its main character. I'm a big advocate of animal rescue and dogs in particular hold a soft spot in my heart. 

A kind old man sees a pack of dogs scrounging for food, but one in particular stands out to him. He would come back day after day looking for food so the kind old man dubbed him "Scrapper." Scrapper is hesitant at first but eventually the kind old man makes headway and gets Scrapper to come to him. What they may or may not realize is that both the old man and Scrapper have a lot in common. Both are basically immigrants looking for their place in the world. 

This book gave me goosebumps.  I give it 5 rainbows!

Book Review: Grace And The Golden Rule by Negrita Smart

Title: Grace And The Golden Rule
Author: Negrita Smart
Pages: 34
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Grace loves the Winter season. It is her favorite of all seasons because she loves to play in the snow with her friends. Winter is also Grace’s favorite season because she can wear her favorite purple scarf. Grace wears it every day until she meets Ruth. After meeting Ruth as school, Grace feels differently about playing in the snow and wearing her favorite purple scarf. This is because Grace learns a valuable lesson about how to treat other people.

Review:

What a beautiful story! Let me begin with the book cover. Colorful, whimsical and inviting with the color purple my absolute favorite color to put on a children's book. Don't you just love that hair and freckles??

In Negrita Smart's new children's picture book, Grace And The Golden Rule, we follow little Grace on a magical journey of discovering about other children's feelings. A new girl enters her class and Grace befriends her. She likes her so much that she invites this girl to her house to play in the snow. What should have been a fun time for Grace turned into a life lesson. What a feel good book!

I would gladly recommend this book and give it 5 rainbows.

Grace and The Golden Rule is available at Amazon at https://tinyurl.com/3zh4de8f.

Book Review: Grandpa's Tales: Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale by Cheryl Carpinello

Title: Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale

Author: Cheryl Carpinello
Publisher: Silver Quill Publishing
Genre: Children’s Picture Books (Ages 4 – 8)

BOOK BLURB:

Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales books 1-3 encourage early readers with fun stories incorporating difference aspects of nature. Book 1, Wild Creatures In My Neighborhood and What if I Went to the Circus, explores the wildlife around neighborhoods and introduces decision-making. Book 2, Singers of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback, explores a common, but not so common insect, and lets readers see that being stubborn isn’t always good. Book 3, Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale, introduces readers to an extended metaphor and lets them decide if the fish story is real.

Book Information

Release Date: Grandma’s Tales #1 (2016), Grandma’s Tales #2 (2018), Grandma’s Tales #3 (2021), Grandpa’s Tales #1 (2016), Grandpa’s Tales #2 (2018), Grandpa’s Tales #3 (2021)

Publisher:  Silver Quill Publishing

Soft Cover: Grandma’s Tales #1 – 39 pages; $9.99

Grandma’s Tales #2 – 66 pages; $13.99

Grandma’s Tales #3 – 64 pages; $14.99

Grandpa’s Tales #1 – 39 pages; $9.99

Grandpa’s Tales #2 – 66 pages; $13.99

Grandpa’s Tales #3 – 64 pages; $14.99

Amazon Ma 1:  https://amzn.to/3374bEX

Amazon Pa 1:  https://amzn.to/3uHMKpA

Amazon Ma 2:  https://amzn.to/3Jan0X5

Amazon Pa 2: https://amzn.to/34HGt2g

Amazon Ma 3: https://amzn.to/3wELnJj

Amazon Pa 3: https://amzn.to/3GyXTLJ

Review:

Last but not least, I am reviewing the last book in the series by Cheryl Carpinello, Grandpa's Tales: Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale and what a wonderful book to finish the series with!

First of all, like the others, this cover is so cute. We have Grandpa sitting in his rocker, fishing pole in tow, yet right beside him is a beware of vampires sign. Yikes! 

It starts out with the children in the backyard doing the usual kid things - chasing butterflies so forth. Nightime comes and the vampires come out only these aren't your usual run of the mill vampires and I don't want to give it away but it's something that's in everyone's backyard!

The next story is called A Fish Tale. George is going fishing all by himself. Only he was in for a surprise at what he caught! I won't give it away but I really felt sorry for little George. He was so proud that he was going all by himself and almost almost had "it" reeled in, then boom...and I can't give it away but this is also a cute cute story.

All in all, I was quite impressed with the author's creativity. She has given us so much pleasure through her books. Hoping for more!

Book Review: Grandma's Tales: Singer of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback by Cheryl Carpinello

Title: Grandma’s and Grandpa’s Tales: Singer of Songs & The Not Too Stubborn Humpback

Author: Cheryl Carpinello
Publisher: Silver Quill Publishing
Genre: Children’s Picture Books (Ages 4 – 8)

BOOK BLURB:

Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales books 1-3 encourage early readers with fun stories incorporating difference aspects of nature. Book 1, Wild Creatures In My Neighborhood and What if I Went to the Circus, explores the wildlife around neighborhoods and introduces decision-making. Book 2, Singers of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback, explores a common, but not so common insect, and lets readers see that being stubborn isn’t always good. Book 3, Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale, introduces readers to an extended metaphor and lets them decide if the fish story is real.

Book Information

Release Date: Grandma’s Tales #1 (2016), Grandma’s Tales #2 (2018), Grandma’s Tales #3 (2021), Grandpa’s Tales #1 (2016), Grandpa’s Tales #2 (2018), Grandpa’s Tales #3 (2021)

Publisher:  Silver Quill Publishing

Soft Cover: Grandma’s Tales #1 – 39 pages; $9.99

Grandma’s Tales #2 – 66 pages; $13.99

Grandma’s Tales #3 – 64 pages; $14.99

Grandpa’s Tales #1 – 39 pages; $9.99

Grandpa’s Tales #2 – 66 pages; $13.99

Grandpa’s Tales #3 – 64 pages; $14.99

Amazon Ma 1:  https://amzn.to/3374bEX

Amazon Pa 1:  https://amzn.to/3uHMKpA

Amazon Ma 2:  https://amzn.to/3Jan0X5

Amazon Pa 2: https://amzn.to/34HGt2g

Amazon Ma 3: https://amzn.to/3wELnJj

Amazon Pa 3: https://amzn.to/3GyXTLJ

Review:

I am so enjoying Cheryl Carpinello's Grandma & Grandpa Tales! For this review, I will be reading and reviewing the second book in the series, Grandma's Tales: Singer of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback.

Before opening Singer of Songs, I tried to imagine what it would be about. Maybe bird creatures in the forest? How about whippoorwills; they kind of sing. Who else would be the singer of songs? When reading to my granddaughter, we try to guess what's inside and she guessed Snow White singing to the forest creatures, lol. So here we go. Who was right?

Crickets!!! Forgot all about those! We both lost that game but come out as winners as we dive into this delightful book.

In Singer of Songs, we learn all about crickets - the good and the bad. I am all for educational books that make it fun to read. Thumbs up on this one.

The second story, The Not Too Stubborn Humpback. Because the cover gave it away, we were figuring this must be about humpback whales. We were right! But mainly it's about Nemo, a young humpback whale that...you guessed it...was a little too stubborn for his good until it landed him in a lot of trouble, he got lost, couldn't find his mother but an unexpected event changed everything.

Dotted with fun facts and places where your child can draw different things the book asks for; they were so much surprise bonuses.

You will love both stories. Very very cute! Two thumbs up!

Book Review: Grandma's Tales: Wild Creatures in My Neighborhood & What If I Went to the Circus? by Cheryl Carpinello

Title: Grandma’s and Grandpa’s Tales Books 1 – 6
Author: Cheryl Carpinello
Publisher: Silver Quill Publishing
Genre: Children’s Picture Books (Ages 4 – 8)

BOOK BLURB:

Grandma and Grandpa’s Tales books 1-3 encourage early readers with fun stories incorporating difference aspects of nature. Book 1, Wild Creatures In My Neighborhood and What if I Went to the Circus, explores the wildlife around neighborhoods and introduces decision-making. Book 2, Singers of Songs and The Not Too Stubborn Humpback, explores a common, but not so common insect, and lets readers see that being stubborn isn’t always good. Book 3, Vampires in the Backyard and A Fish Tale, introduces readers to an extended metaphor and lets them decide if the fish story is real.

Book Information

Release Date: Grandma’s Tales #1 (2016), Grandma’s Tales #2 (2018), Grandma’s Tales #3 (2021), Grandpa’s Tales #1 (2016), Grandpa’s Tales #2 (2018), Grandpa’s Tales #3 (2021)

Publisher:  Silver Quill Publishing

Soft Cover: Grandma’s Tales #1 – 39 pages; $9.99

Grandma’s Tales #2 – 66 pages; $13.99

Grandma’s Tales #3 – 64 pages; $14.99

Grandpa’s Tales #1 – 39 pages; $9.99

Grandpa’s Tales #2 – 66 pages; $13.99

Grandpa’s Tales #3 – 64 pages; $14.99

Amazon Ma 1:  https://amzn.to/3374bEX

Amazon Pa 1:  https://amzn.to/3uHMKpA

Amazon Ma 2:  https://amzn.to/3Jan0X5

Amazon Pa 2: https://amzn.to/34HGt2g

Amazon Ma 3: https://amzn.to/3wELnJj

Amazon Pa 3: https://amzn.to/3GyXTLJ

Review:

What a cute 2 for 1 book! Grandma's Tales: Wild Creatures in My Neighborhood and What If I Went to the Circus? is actually two delightful and fun to read stories within Grandma's and Grandpa's Tales by Cheryl Carpinello.

In the first story, Wild Creatures in My Neighborhood had me in fits of laughter and I'm not a kid! I love this story because not many kids realize that there's a whole bunch of animals that live in the city as well as the country. This is perfect for your city rug rat so that they realize that animals are not restricted to the country.

In What If I Went to the Circus?, the illustrations in this story were so cute! So the little boy goes to the circus and starts dreaming up ways to have the circus animals for pets, only one by one they get eliminated for very good reasons! At the circus, the child looks at the animals acting behaved and downright fun. They would make perfect pets! Oh no...the little boy takes each animal he would like to have as a pet and found reasons they would be better off at the circus.

How cute was this book! I give it a big thumbs up!

Book Review: Nomophobia by JD Wise

Title: NOMOPHOBIA

Author: JD Wise
Pages: 28
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

BOOK BLURB:

Welcome to NOMOPHOBIA – A PLACE IN TIME WHERE OVERUSED CELLULAR DEVICES TURN CHILDREN INTO OGRES.

This is a somewhat true, mostly exaggerated story of modern-day children – children who have spent way too much time on their phones. One night the children are mysteriously turned into ogres. At first the children blame each other for their condition. When they finished blaming each other, they worked together to find a cure. They searched the house for a cure…but they could not find one. They tried to wash the ogre off…but it stayed on.

They had all but given up when sissy’s phone accidently falls into the fish tank. When the phone gets wet, a hidden message appears: YOU WERE TURNED INTO OGRES, BECAUSE ON THE PHONE YOU DID STAY! NOW, PUT IT AWAY AND GO OUT AND PLAY!

So the children rushed outside, where they returned to normal. That day the children learned a valuable lesson. OVERUSED CELL PHONES TURN CHILDREN INTO OGRES.

Review:

Before I give you my review, I have to tell you a true story. I was behind a busload of kids coming home from school. As soon as each one of their little feetsies hit the gravel, they were on their cell phones and it made me say right out loud, "Boy if that isn't the sign of the times." I can't really knock owning a cell phone as a child. I'm sure I would have been doing the same thing had I had one back then. But I'm kinda glad I didn't because I would have joined thousands upon thousands of other little kids who relied on wifi to round out my world. Not that gleaming information from the information highway wasn't a bad thing, but cell phones I think kinda take away from the whole experience of being a child.

Nomophobia was a cute little book with awesome illustrations. Instead of sounding preachy, we read a story about kids who suddenly in their sleep wake up looking green. Well, they're ogres. Nothing they can do will change them back to their original cell-loving kid bodies. The story tells us how the kids tried to find ways to get rid of their ogre-ness and with the illustrations, they were downright hilarious. I won't tell you how they got out of it (if they did of course) but this book is such an enjoyable read.

With that said, I loved loved loved Nomophobia.  

NOMOPHOBIA is available at Amazon at https://amzn.to/3Fwczvq. 

Book Review: Creature Cat Tales by M.G. Rorai

 

Title: CREATURE CAT TALES

Author: M.G. Rorai
Pages: 68
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

BOOK BLURB:

This whimsical collection of poetic life lessons is sure to inspire positivity and values while delighting young readers with charming creature cat stories and illustrations. Come join the creature cats as they make learning fun—a purrfect addition to any kid’s collection. Suggested reading age 8-12.

Review:

First I have to say this is a wonderful book...you know how sometimes you feel different and everyone picks on you...wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to show these people that inside you're really really nice and then wouldn't it be wonderful if you formed your own community for those who are just a little different? Welcome to Creature Cat Town!

What a great message this book shows us, but wait, let's get to know the creatures who live there! There's Zima the Zombie-Cat, Milo the Mummy Cat, Warren the Were-Cat, then there's Mary who has water features, Franken-Cat, William the Wendigo-Cat, Sammy the Spider-Cat, Uni the Unicorn-Cat, Cameron the Chimera Cat, Manny the Mer-Cat and more!

What I absolutely loved was that each section had a different creature cat and each holds a story - a lesson on how even though each cat had something different about it, they surpassed their own expectations. 

This story is whimsical and enchanting. The author has a great imagination!

Here's an example of what's inside: 

Mary was a water creature

with webbed feet and tail;

her kind glided through water

as naturally as whales.

Her brother swam strong

while her sister liked to splash

Mary liked neither;

she certainly wasn’t rash.

Her tribe would hold parties

in the ocean so vast;

Mary always stayed put;

Bereft, alone and outcast.

She remembered when they were little

Running up and down the beach;

Life was the cat’s meow

to use a figure of speech

Her mother taught them to wade

and paddle just like so

then dive into the deep

and catch the fish below.

Mary had a secret

that she never said out loud;

she kept it to herself;

this thought she was not proud.

Mary was afraid of drowning

she didn’t want to chance

breathing in the water

and doing a drowning-cat dance.

So she sat on the shore

while others went out to play

until she heard a desperate mew

coming from the water one day.

A cat had fallen

from an overhanging tree;

there were no other creatures around

she would have to go into the sea.

Mary gathered her courage

and paddled out to help;

She reached the kitten in time;

As she grabbed it, it yelped.

As she pulled the small one to safety

she saw a crowd had gathered

cheering her on;

showing how much she had mattered.

Back on the shore

her siblings praised her actions

she was their quick-thinking sister

Mary grinned with satisfaction.

After that day

Mary realized she swam well;

She stopped fearing the ocean;

And now has sea stories to tell.

Wonderful story in verse! 

I would gladly recommend this book and give it 5 rainbows (wish I could give it more!).

Creature Cat Tales is available at Amazon at https://amzn.to/3zFP5QR.